Reinforced cap and prop members therefor



March 17, 1959 F. K. LIPSCHUTZ ETAL 2,877,466

REINFORCED CAP AND PROP MEMBERS THEREFOR Filed Nov. 9, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

FRANK K. LIPSCHUTZ a BY SAMUEL ROSENBERG v Q M Q v ATTORNEYS March 17,1959 F. K. LIPSICHUTZ ETAL 2,877,466

REINFORCED CAP AND PROP MEMBERS THEREFOR Filed NOV. 9, 1956 2 Sheets5 heet 2 F lg. 5 24 33 f v 33 3o 29 32 3| Fig. 6 34 34 INVENTOR. FRANK K. LIPSCHUTZ a BY SAMUEL ROSENBERG ATTORNEYS United States Patent-Ofilice 2,877,466 Patented Mar. 17, 1959 REINFORCED CAP AND PROP MEMBERS THEREFOR Application November 9, 1956, Serial No. 621,285 7 Claims. (Cl. 2 -195) This invention relates to a reinforced cap of the type used .by the armed forces, and to the reinforcing structure thereof.

In U. S. Patent No. 2,748,396, there is disclosed a reinforced cap of the type herein considered, in which a prop 'member is used, which is made of springy material, and consists of a middle chine portion and legs depending from the opposite ends of said chine portion. Due to the fact that the legs of the aforesaid prop member are formed integrally with the chine portion and are therefore rigidly connected thereto, the legs are drawn toward each other when the sides of the cap are separated by the wearer prior to placing the cap on his head. This increases the tendency of the legs to separate from each other, while the cap is worn, and the increased tension thus generated causes the sides of the cap to bear with increased pressure on the sides of the head, producing, in many instances, a somewhat uncomfortable condition or feeling.

This condition or feeling is aggravated to some extent by the fact that the chine portion of the prop member extends to the top points of the front and rear prows of the cap, so that when the cap is applied to the head of the wearer, the chine portion of the prop member is further bowed, increasing the inward movement of the legs, with consequent increase in the tension to which reference has been made.

We have found, as the result of considerable experimentation that the comfort with which such a cap can be worn, can be greatly improved by means of certain improvements or changes in the construction of the prop member, whereby the pressure on the sides of the head is relieved, without appreciable change in the fit of the cap or in the general appearance and neatness thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the course of the following description of the invention, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of one form of the cap to which the invention is applied;

Fig. 2'is a longitudinal. cross-sectional view of the cap of Fig. 1, showingthe prop member in position therein; Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the prop member;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view, similar to Fig. 3, but showing a modification of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but showing another modification of the invention;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective showing the invention as applied to a cap with a double crest;

Fig. 8 shows a modification of the prop member of Fig. 7, and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, taken on the line 99 of Fig. 8.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive of the drawings, there is shown a cap comprising a pliable headband 1 united along the top edges thereof to form a single crest 2 and united at the front and rear edges thereof to form a front prow 3 and a rear prow 4 respectively. The cap may also be provided with an ornamental band 4 extending around the outside of the cap, and a sweatband 5 extending around the inside of the cap, as shown in Fig. 2. Since the details of the seams, lining and other construction of the cap are of no importance in connection with this invention, no attempt has been made to illustrate or describe the same, except as necessary to an understanding of the invention.

When the cap is worn, the crest 2 is to be maintained in proper curvature and the prows 3 and 4 in straight lines. For this purpose, we have provided a reinforcement or prop member in the form of a wire formed of springy material, having a chine portion 6 which, as shown in Fig. 2, extends along the inside of the crest 2 but terminates short of the ends of the crest. The wire is bent to provide dependent portions 7 and h, and upturned end portions 9 and 10 which with the adjacent portions 7 and 8 provide Vs.

Pivotally secured to the upper ends of the end portions 9 and 10, as by means of hollow rivets 11, are legs 12 and 13, which, as shown in Fig. 2, extend substantially the full length of and lie against the inside of the prows 3 and 4 respectively. The portions 9 and 10 are bent at their upper ends to provide eyes 14 which encircle the rivets 11, and the upper ends of the legs 12 and 13 are similarly bent to provide eyes 15 which encircle these rivets. The lower ends of the legs 12 and 13 are bent or formed to provide eyes 16 which lie inside the sweatband 5, so that the prop member is maintained in proper positioninside the cap, but can be easily removed therefrom.

The prop member, as thus described, is adequate at all times to maintain the crest of the cap in proper curvature and the prows in straight lines.

When the sides of the headband are separated from each other to place the cap on the head of the wearer, no strain is placed on the parts 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the prop member, but instead, the legs 12 and 13 move toward each other by pivotal movement about the rivets 11. By virtue of this pivotal movement, and the. fact that the legs are not integrally united with the chine portion of the prop member, there is no tension tending to separate the legs from each other, and consequently no pressure generated which causes the sides of the headband to bear uncomfortably against the head of the wearer. At the same time, the various portions'of the prop member are efiective to maintain the crest of the cap in proper curvature and the prows in straight lines throughout all movements of such portions of the prop member. V

Due to the provision of the VS 7-9 and 8-10, the parts of which are yieldable towards each other, and tend to separate when moved toward each other, the prop member is adjustable to caps of various sizes, so that a single size of prop member may be used efiectively for a variety of sizes of caps, without appreciable change in the efiiciency of the prop member.

in Fig; 5, a modification is shown, in which the rein forcement or prop member is in the form of a wire formed of springy material, having a chine portion 16", similar in length to the chine 6, and bent to provide dependent portions 17 and 18.

Pivotally secured to the lower ends of the portions 17 and 18, as by means of hollow rivets 19, are downturned end portions 26 and 21, of legs 22 and 23 respectively, which extend substantially the full length of and lie against the inside of the prows 3 and 4 respectively. The manner of connecting the parts 10, 1'7, 18 and 21 to the tubular rivets 19 is similar to that described in connection with Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, and need not be amuse further described. The lower ends of the legs 20 and 21 are bent to provide eyes 24, similar to the eyes 16. This prop member functions in a manner similar to that of the previously-described prop member.

In Fig. 6, a further modification is shown, in which the reinforcement or prop member is in the form of a wire formed of springy material, having a chine portion 26 similar in length to the chine 6.

In this case, the legs 27 and 28 are bent to provide downturned portions 29 and 3t), and upturned end portions 31 and 32, which are pivotally secured, as by mcans of hollow rivets 33, to the ends of the chine portion 26. The legs 27 and 28 extend substantially the full length of and lie against the inside of the prows 3 and 4 respectively. The manner of connecting the parts 26, 31 and 32 to the tubular rivets 33 is similar to that doscribed in connection with Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, and need not be further described. The lower ends of the legs 27 and 28 are bent to provide eyes 34, similar to the eyes 16. This prop member functions in a manner similar to that of the previously described prop members.

In Fig. 7, a modification is shown, in which the cap comprises a pliable headband 41 with a pleated gore 42 uniting the top edges of the headband to form crests 43 and 44, and front prow 45 and rear prow (not shown).

In this case, a prop member similar to that shown in Fig. is employed, but instead of a single chine, a pair of chine members 16' are employed, having dependent portions 18, which are pivotally secured to the downturned portion 21 of leg 23, as by hollow rivets 19. In use, this prop is inserted in the cap in the same manner as shown in Fig. 2, with the chines 16 in the crests 43 and 44 of the cap, the pleated gore 42 being received between these chines.

In Pigs. 8 and 9, another modification is shown, in which the cap is identical with that shown in Fig. 7. In this case, a prop member similar to that shown in Fig. 3 is employed, but instead of a single chine, a pair of chine members 36 are employed, having dependent portions 8 and upturned end portions 10, the latter being pivotally secured to the legs 13, as by hollow rivets 11. In use, this prop member is inserted in the cap in the same manner as shown in Fig. 2, with the chines 36 in the crests 43 and 44 of the cap, the pleated gore 42 being received between these chines.

With respect to Figs. 7 and 8, it will be understood that the construction of the prop members, at the ends thereof which are not seen in these figures, is identical with the construction at the ends which are shown.

It will be understood that various changes in the invention may be made, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In combination with a cap of the type comprising side panels of pliable material having arcuate upper edges, said side panels being united at their upper edges to form a curved crest and being united at their front and rear edges to form front and rear prows terminating at top points at the ends of the crest, a prop member of springy material, said prop member consisting of a middle chine portion and legs, said chine portion engaging said crest and terminating short of the ends of the crest whereby to leave spaces of substantial length between the ends of the chine portion an ting pivotal movement chine portion, said legs substantially to the height of sa 6 said top points, means permitof said legs relatively to said being of a length conforming id prows and engaging said prows, said legs having portions engaging said top points.

2. A combination, prop member has dependent chine portion formed and upturned end por dependent portions and upturned end portions being upper ends 3. A combination, as prop member of said legs.

defined in claim 1, has dependent portions at the ends of said in which said in which said chine portion formed integrally with said chine portion,

and has downturned porti legs formed integrally wit ons at the upper ends of said h said legs, said downturned portions being pivotally connected to said depending portions, and

4. A combination, as prop member is provided w the upper ends of said legs legs, and other lower ends with the latter and f secured to S. A prop member said prop prop member having said chine portion forme tion, and upturned end p said dependent portions and and means pivotally connec forming Vs with the latter.

defined in claim 1,

ith downturned portions at formed integrally with said portions extending upwardly from the in which said of said. downturned portions formed integrally the ends of said chine portion.

orrning Vs therewith, the upper ends of said upwardly extending portions being pivotally for a cap of the character described,

member made of springy material and consisting of a straight middle chine portion and legs, said tions to the upper ends of said legs.

6. A prop member scribed, said prop memb and consisting of a straig legs, said prop member havi ends of said chine portion chine portion, upper ends of sai said downturned portions b said dependent portions, an

7. A prop member and having dependent portions at the ends of d integrally with said chine porortions formed integrally with forming'Vs with the latter, ting said upturned end porfor a cap of the character deer formed of springy material. ht middle chine portion and ng dependent portions at the formed integrally with said downturned portions at the d legs, formed integrally with said legs, eing pivotally connected with d forming Vs with the latter. for a cap of the character described,

said prop member formed of springy material and consisting of a strar prop member havi ends of said legs formed int other portions extending upw of said downturned portions, latter and forming Vs t upwardly extending portions the ends of said chine portion.

ght middle chine portion and legs, said ng downturned portions at the upper egrally with said legs, and ardly from the lower ends formed integrally with the herewith, the upper ends of said being pivotally secured to Lipschutz et a1.

June 5, 1956' 

